INEC Expects Improved Performance of BVAS, IReV in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Guber Polls

• Removes Sylva’s name in amended list of candidates

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is looking forward to improved performance of the  Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result upload on INEC Result Viewing (IReV) in the forthcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States scheduled to hold on November 11.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisationS (CSOs).

He said the commission has accredited 145 organisations and deployed 7,896 observers for the off cycle elections taking place in the three states.

The INEC chairman noted that in the next few days, accredited organisations would be invited to collect the identity cards for their observers.

Yakubu said: “As you are aware, the commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States two weeks ago. 

“By doing so, we tested the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal. 

“We have received no adverse report so far. By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful, and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming governorship elections and beyond.”

The electoral body noted that the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship elections were critical to the commission. 

Meanwhile, the commission has released the amended list of candidates for off cycle governorship elections.

The amended list uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday indicated that the name of Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were not included in the Bayelsa election.

In the list signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the commission cited a court order as the reason for removing Sylva’s name from the amended list.

Also, for the Imo governorship election, the commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).